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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, XXX […](2012) XXX COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of XXX on the financing of emergency humanitarian actions in Madagascar from the general budget of the European Union ECHO/MDG/BUD/2012/01000 EN EN COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of XXX on the financing of emergency humanitarian actions in Madagascar from the general budget of the European Union ECHO/MDG/BUD/2012/01000 THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid1, and in particular Article 2(a) and Article 13 thereof; Whereas: (1) During the 2012 cyclone season, Madagascar was seriously affected by severe tropical cyclone Giovanna, which hit the island on 14 February, and by tropical storm Irina that brought heavy rains, starting on 26 February. Both events led to the destruction of homes, essential assets and vast areas of agricultural land along the east coast and in particular in the Ampasimanolotra (Brickaville), Vatomandry districts and southern regions of Vatovavy Fitovinany and Atsimo Atsinanana. (2) Many communities, especially in the coastal areas affected by the cyclones, have few coping capacities in the event of disaster and a very low capacity to recover from losses due to their extreme vulnerability. (3) An assessment of the humanitarian situation leads concludes that at least 100,000 people in the areas most affected by the disasters are in direct need of humanitarian emergency assistance, whereas the Malagasy government estimates the number of people affected by the cyclones at more than 330,000. (4) Immediate financial support is crucial to sustain and strengthen the stakeholders' intervention capacity, cover the gaps in the disaster response given so far and ensure a quick recovery from this situation. (5) To reach populations in need, humanitarian aid should be channelled through non- governmental Organisations (NGOs) and international organisations, including the United Nations (UN) agencies. Therefore, the European Commission should implement the budget by direct centralised management or by joint management. (6) Humanitarian aid actions financed by this Decision should be of a maximum duration of 6 months. 1 OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, p. 1 EN 1 EN (7) It is estimated that an amount of EUR 1,000,000 from budget article 23 02 01 of the general budget of the European Union is necessary to provide humanitarian assistance to over 100,000 people, taking into account the available budget, other donors' contributions and other factors. The activities covered by this Decision may be financed in full in accordance with Article 253 of the Implementing Rules of the Financial Regulation. (8) This Decision constitutes a financing Decision within the meaning of Article 75 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget2 ("the Financial Regulation") and Article 90 of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the Financial Regulation3. (9) Pursuant to Article 13 of Council Regulation (EC) N° 1257/96, the opinion of the Humanitarian Aid Committee is not required, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 1. In accordance with the objectives and general principles of humanitarian aid, the Commission hereby approves a total amount of EUR 1,000,000 for the financing of emergency humanitarian actions in Madagascar from budget article 23 02 01 of the 2012 general budget of the European Union. 2. In accordance with Article 2(a) of Council Regulation No.1257/96, the principal objective of this Decision is to save and preserve lives of vulnerable people affected by cyclone Giovanna and tropical storm Irina in Madagascar. The humanitarian actions shall be implemented in the pursuance of the following specific objective: – To improve the humanitarian situation of vulnerable people affected by cyclone Giovanna and tropical storm Irina through the provision of integrated relief and early recovery assistance. A total of EUR 1,000,000 is allocated to this specific objective. Article 2 1. The period for the implementation of the actions financed under this Decision shall start on 14 February 2012. Expenditure under this Decision shall be eligible from the same date. The duration of individual humanitarian aid actions financed under this Decision shall be limited to a maximum of six months. 2. If the implementation of individual actions is suspended owing to force majeure or other exceptional circumstances, the period of suspension shall not be taken into account in the implementing period of the Decision in respect of the action suspended. 2 OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p.1 3 OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p.1 EN 2 EN 3. In accordance with the contractual provisions ruling the Agreements financed under this Decision, the Commission may consider eligible those costs arising and incurred after the end of the implementing period of the action which are necessary for its winding-up. Article 3 1. In accordance with Article 253 of the Implementing Rules and having regard to the urgency of the action, the availability of other donors and other relevant operational circumstances, funds under this Decision may finance humanitarian actions in full. 2. Actions supported by this Decision will be implemented either by non-profit-making organisations which fulfil the eligibility and suitability criteria established in Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 or by international organisations. 3. The Commission shall implement the budget: * either by direct centralised management, with non-governmental organisations and with Member States' specialised agencies; * or by joint management with international organisations that are signatories to the Framework Partnership Agreements (FPA) or the Financial Administrative Framework Agreement with the UN (FAFA) and which were subject to the four pillar assessment in line with Article 53d of the Financial Regulation Article 4 This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, For the Commission Claus H. Sørensen Director-General EN 3 EN EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL HUMANITARIAN AID AND CIVIL PROTECTION (ECHO) Emergency Humanitarian Aid Decision 23 02 01 Title: Commission implementing decision on the financing of emergency humanitarian actions in Madagascar from the general budget of the European Union Description: Emergency humanitarian aid for populations affected by cyclone Giovanna and tropical storm Irina Location of action: Madagascar Amount of Decision: 1,000,000 EUR Decision reference number: ECHO/MDG/BUD/2012/01000 Supporting document 1 Humanitarian context, needs and risks 1.1 Situation and context Severe tropical cyclone Giovanna, category 4, made landfall on the east coast of Madagascar on February 14 in the village of Andovoranto, in Brickaville district (Atsinanana region). The cyclone has diminished in intensity as it crossed several regions of the country, including Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga (where Antananarivo is situated), Itasy, Bongolava, and Menabe, before exiting into the Mozambique Channel on February 15. In the eastern areas of the country, where the cyclone hit first, the damage caused was primarily due to wind and to a lesser extend to the rains and floods. In the central areas of the country, rains were more important and, unlike other cyclones in Madagascar, the eye of the cyclone went right over the capital of Antananarivo. Less than two weeks after cyclone Giovanna, another violent storm has swept over Madagascar. Tropical storm Irina brought heavy rains, especially in the southeast of the country around the towns of Mananjary and Manakara, starting on 26 February. ECHO/MDG/BUD/2012/01000 1 Official reports of National Disasters Office (BNGRC – Bureau National de Gestion de Risques et Catastrophes) refer to more than 26 districts affected by the passage of cyclone Giovanna and at least 8 districts affected by cyclone Irina and subsequent severe flooding. According to assessments carried out by UN agencies and NGOs, the two districts worst affected by Giovanna were Vatomandry and Brickaville with close to 400,000 people. Other moderately affected areas include the district of Moramanga and Mahanooro as well as the capital Antananarivo, where national authorities continue to monitor the water levels of the five main rivers surrounding the capital. Vangaindrano and Farafangana, in the southern part of the island, were the districts most affected by the heavy rains and floods caused by Irina. Madagascar exhibits one of the lowest Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world (rang 151 out of 172 countries)1. Many communities on the east coast, affected by the cyclone, have few coping capacities in the event of disaster and a very low capacity to recover from losses due to their extreme poverty. 1.2 Identified humanitarian needs Irina has brought the total death toll from Madagascar’s current cyclone season, which usually runs from January to March, to over 60. A provisional stock taking on 6 March by the National Disasters Office (BNGRC) of an impact of tropical storm Irina indicates that 70,000 people could have been affected, mostly in Vangaindrano and Farafangana districts, with 31 deaths reported to date. After the passage of severe cyclone Giovanna, BNGRC reported 35 deaths, 90 injured, 3 missing and 33,000 houses completely destroyed; with a total of 263,191 people affected. Estimates by DG ECHO2 and NGO partners involved in the assessments on the ground in the two most affected districts suggest a total of 100,000 people in direct need of emergency humanitarian assistance, mostly in relation to damages to the houses and loss of assets. In Brickaville and Vatomandry districts more than 50% of the houses would have been at least partially destroyed. Most homes along the affected area are made of local material and are not cyclone resistant.